Formula 1 world champion Kimi Antonelli has explained why he is choosing not to run with the title winner’s #1 on his car next season.<\/p>\n
The Italian made history at the Mexican Grand Prix as he became the youngest driver to ever win the crown at the age of 20.<\/p>\n
That feat gives him the opportunity if he chooses to run with the #1 on his car next season, as 2025 champion Lando Norris has done this season.<\/p>\n
However, Antonelli has said that he will stick with his current #12 – as that number has personal significance for him, plus he has not had the best of luck in the past when he has run with #1.<\/p>\n
Antonelli chose #12 as his F1 race number to honour his hero Ayrton Senna, who raced with it during his Lotus years from 1985-87 as well as in his first title-winning campaign with McLaren in 1988.<\/p>\n
Asked whether he would take up the option of running #1, Antonelli said: “I’ll stay with #12 because, obviously, it’s a very special number for me, but also it’s a way for me to stay grounded, to stay humble.<\/p>\n
“I feel like by keeping #12 it allows me to have a new point where to start and build on everything again and try to improve.<\/p>\n
“And also, to be honest, I’m very superstitious, and number one has never been a good number for me. Whenever I put it, it went extremely badly. So one more reason to stay with #12.”<\/p>\n
Antonelli has used #12 throughout his single seater racing career, apart from in Formula 2 in 2024 when he raced with #4.<\/p>\n
It is the number that he carried as he won crowns in Italian Formula 4 in 2022 and FRECA the following season. His reference to not having much luck with number one almost certainly relates to his time in karting.<\/p>\n